22. In this confusion of objects, I observed some with scimetars in their hands, and others with urinals, who ran to and fro upon the bridge, thrusting several persons on trap-doors which did not seem to lie in their way, and which they might have escaped, had they not been thus forced upon them.

23. The genius seeing me indulge myself in this melancholy prospect, told me I had dwelt long enough upon it: "Take thine eyes off the bridge," said he, " and tell me if thou seest any thing thou dost not comprehend."

24. Upon looking up, "What mean," said I, "those great flights of birds that are perpetually hovering about the bridge, and settling upon it from time to time? I see vultures, harpies, ravens, cormorants, and, among many other feathered creatures, several little winged boys, that perch in great numbers upon the middle arches."

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25. "These," said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, despair, love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life.

26. I here fetched a deep sigh: "Alas," said I, "man was made in vain! how is he given away to misery and mortality! tortured in life, and swallowed up in death!" The genius being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect.

27. Look no more," said he, "on man in the first stage of his existence, in his setting out for eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it."

28. I directed my sight as I was ordered, and (whether or no the good genius strengthened it with any supernatural force, or dissipated part of the mist that was before too thick for the eye to penetrate) I saw the valley opening at the farther end, and spreading forth into an immense ocean, that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it, and dividing it into two equal parts.

29. The clouds still rested on one half of it, insomuch that I could discover nothing in it: but the other appeared to me a vast ocean, planted with innumerable islands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little shining seas that ran among them.

30. I could see persons dressed in glorious habits, with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trees, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments.

31. Gladness grew in me at the discovery of so delightful a scene. I wished for the wings of an eagle, that I might fly away to those happy seats; but the genius told me there was no passage to them, except through the gates of death that I saw opening every moment upon the bridge.

32. The islands," said he, "that lie so fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as far as thou canst see, are more in number than the sands on the sea-shore; there are myriads 'of islands behind those which thou here discoverest, reaching further than thine eye, or even thine imagination, can extend itself.

33." These are the mansions of good men after death, who according to the degree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are distributed among these several islands, which abound with pleasures of different kinds and degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are settled in them; every island is a paradise accommodated to its respective inhabitants. 34. "Are not these, O Mirza, habitations worth contending for? Does life appear miserable, that gives thee opportunities of earning such a reward? Is death to be feared, that will convey thee to so happy an existence? Think not man was made in vain, who has such an eternity reserved for him.”

35. I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on these happy islands. At length, said I," Show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds, which cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of adamant."

36. The genius making me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second time, but I found that he had left me: I then turned again to the vision which I had been so long contemplating; but instead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long hollow valley of Bagdad, with oxen, sheep, and camels, grazing upon the sides of it.

LESSON LXVI.

The Chameleon.*-MERRICK.

1. OFT it has been my lot to mark
A proud, conceited, talking spark,
With eyes that hardly served at most
To guard their master 'gainst a post:

* Pronounced Ca-me'-le-un, an animal of the lizard kind, subject to variations of color.

Yet round the world the blade has been
To see whatever could be seen.
Returning from his finish'd tour,
Grown ten times perter than before;
Whatever word you chance to drop,
The travell'd fool your mouth will stop;
"Sir, if my judgment you'll allow-
"I've seen- and sure I ought to know”–
So begs you'd pay a due submission,
And acquiesce in his decision.

2. Two travellers of such a cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they pass'd,
And on their way in friendly chat,
Now talk'd of this, and then of that,
Discours'd awhile, 'mongst other matter,
Of the Chameleon's form and nature.

3. "A stranger animal," cries one,
"Sure never liv'd beneath the sun :
A lizard's body, lean and long,
A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,
It's foot with triple claw disjoin'd:
And what a length of tail behind!
How slow its pace! and then its hue-
Whoever saw so fine a blue?"

4. "Hold there," the other quick replies,
""Tis green-I saw it with these eyes,
As late with open mouth it lay,
And warm'd it in the sunny ray;
Stretch'd at its ease the beast I view'd,

And saw it eat the air for food."

5. "I've seen it, Sir, as well as you, And must again affirm it blue;

At leisure I the beast survey'd

Extended in the cooling shade."

6. ""Tis green, 'tis green, Sir, I assure ye❞— "Green!” cries the other, in a fury—

Why, Sir-d'ye think I've lost my eyes!"
""Twere no great loss," the friend replies,
"For if they always serve you thus,
You'll find 'em but of little use."

7. So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows;
When luckily came by a third :
To him the question they referr'd;

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And begg'd he'd tell 'em if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue.
8. "Sirs," cries the umpire, cease your potner--
The creature's neither one nor t' other.
I caught the animal last night,
And view'd it o'er by candle light:
I mark'd it well-'twas black as jet-
You stare-but, Sirs, I've got it yet,
And can produce it."-" Pray, Sir, do:
I'll lay my life the thing is blue."

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And I'll be sworn that when you've seen
The reptile, you'll pronounce him green."

If

9. "Well then, at once to ease your doubt,"
Replies, the man, "I'll turn him out:
And when before your eyes I've set him,
you don't find him black, I'll eat him,"
10. He said; then full before their sight
Produc'd the beast, and lo!-'twas white.
Both star'd--the man look'd wond'rous wise-
"My children," the Chameleon cries,
(Then first the creature found a tongue)
"You all are right, and all are wrong:
When next you talk of what you view,
Think others see as well as you:
Nor wonder if you find that none
Prefers your eye-sight to his own."

LESSON LXVII.

The Country Bumpkin and Razor seller.-P. PINDAR.

1. A FELLOW, in a market-town,

Most musical, cried razors up and down,

And offer'd twelve for eighteen pence;

Which, certainly, seem'd wond'rous cheap,

And, for the money, quite a heap,

That every man would buy, with cash and sense.

2. A country bumpkin the great offer heard;

Poor Hodge, who suffer'd by a broad black beard,
That seem'd a shoe-brush stuck beneath his nose,
With cheerfulness the eighteen pence
And, proudly, to himself, in whispers said—
"This rascal stole the razors, I suppose.

he paid,

3. "No matter if the fellow be a knave,

Provided that the razors shave;

It certainly will be a monstrous prize."

So home the clown, with his good fortune, went,—
Smiling,-in heart and soul content,

And quickly soap'd himself to ears and eyes.

4. Being well lather'd, from a dish or tub,

Hodge now began, with grinning pain, to grubJust like a hedger cutting furze :

'Twas a vile razor!-then the rest he try'd, All were impostors. "Ah!" Hodge sigh'd, "I wish my eighteen pence were in my purse."

5. In vain to chase his beard, and bring the graces,

He cut and dug, and whin'd, and stamp'd, and swore; Brought blood, and danc'd, blasphem'd, and made wry faces And curs'd each razor's body, o'er and o'er.

His muzzle, form'd of opposition stuff,
Firm as a Foxite, would not lose its ruff;

So kept it-laughing at the steel and suds.

6. Hodge, in a passion, stretched his angry jaws, Vowing the direst vengeance, with clench'd claws. On the vile CHEAT that sold the goods.

Razors! a vile confounded dog!

Not fit to scrape a hog."

7. Hodge sought the fellow-found him-and begun-
"Perhaps, Master Razor-rogue! to you 'tis fun
That people flay themselves out of their lives.
You rascal! for an hour have I been grubbing,
Giving my crying whiskers here a scrubbing
With razors just like oyster-knives.
Sirrah! I tell you, you're a knave,
To cry up razors that can't shave."

8. "Friend," quoth the razor-man, "I'm not a knave.
As for the razors you have bought,—

Upon my soul, I never thought

That they would shave."

9. "Not think they'd shave?" quoth Hodge, with wond'ring eyes And voice not much unlike an Indian yell,

"What were they made for then, you dog?" he cries. "Made!" quoth the fellow, with a smile-" to sell "